America has real problems. Congress has work to do.
It is time for Americans to get serious and stop snorting the crack-cocaine of political entertainment.
Tomorrow is not just inauguration day, and maybe a time of armed insurrections around the country. It is also the day that Joe Biden signs executive orders and Congress files bills that have been in preparation for months. There is serious work to do.
Biden will sign orders regarding COVID vaccine distribution, on re-entering the Paris climate accords, on stopping the Keystone pipeline, on emergency economic relief, on a national mandate for masks in federal buildings and interstate travel, and more. Substantial changes will require legislation. That means that two chambers in Congress need to pass it before Biden can sign it. This is where things slow down, from Trump-tempo to Biden-tempo.
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| Click: the summary is 70 paragraphs |
Elements that might make it attractive to Republicans, especially those generally opposed to immigration, are not yet inserted into the bill. These would include money and programs to stiffen the southern border. Those get discussed, negotiated, and massaged to get the necessary votes. Immigration is an issue that reveals a split within both parties, although Democrats became more unified in being receptive to immigration in reaction to Trump's hostility to it. Traditionally Republicans had welcomed immigration. Reagan's last speech as president was on America as a shining beacon, drawing in immigrants who strengthened America. He said immigrants made America great. Click: four minutes
A new world begins tomorrow at noon: Real governing is complicated. It is slow. There aren't exactly good guys and bad guys. There are lots of participants.
It isn't all about Trump anymore.
In a Trump-centric world, there was simple polarity for understanding an issue.
1. Trump would propose some policy, in this case opposition to immigration.
2. There would be political fireworks. Trump would do or say things in a way that troubled Republicans and disgusted Democrats, in this case by a gratuitous insult to immigrants from Mexico ("drugs," "criminals," "rapists") and to Muslims--proposing a ban on Muslims entering the U.S. Democrats, academics, jurists, and polite company generally understood Trump's comments to be xenophobic and racist and not Constitutional. However, Republican officeholders would realize that most Republican voters were not particularly offended by Trump's language and policy.
Moreover, Republican voters had reason be feel outraged themselves, since Democrats said Trump was "racist" in saying Mexicans were criminal parasites destroying America. By implication Democrats are saying that all Republicans are deplorable and racist because they stood by their leader. Besides many GOP voters were happy that he was saying out loud what they were thinking themselves, but were afraid to say, and those feelings were realistic and normal to feel, not racist. How dare those Democrats, with their hypocritical virtue signaling!
Outrage. Conflict. Repeat daily for five and a half years. It isn't over yet. Today Trump may pardon co-conspirators in campaign and government misbehavior--another outrage. He is obstructing justice! His office is selling the pardons! He debased the office! Republican media and voters will have an opportunity to be outraged at Democratic hypocrisy. Didn't Clinton pardon some donor, that Marc Rich guy?
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| Rambo Trump. |
Biden has a communication problem, made worse by following Trump. Americans are addicted to political conflict. Real solutions to real problems are not simple and the politics are not simple. Good, memorable narratives are about heroes, villains, and conflict. Trump was superb at offering that up. He was a hero to his base, a villain to everyone else.
The immigration solution is a classic example of a conflict muddled among various small factions--made worse because the factions are within each political party. The actors will have unclear actions and motives, all taking place slowly and mostly out of sight.
It is the meat-and-potatoes of self-government. It is good government. It is bad storytelling. We will need to get used to this.
3 comments:
Aww, a functioning government based on compromise. What a relief.
That's why they called Ted Kennedy the "Lion of the Senate". He was able to get both sides together and make a deal that satisfied everyone. He got things done. No one I've heard of took his place. It would be great if someone did.
With Trump fading I think the drama will center around the Republican party's attempt to reform itself. Hopefully the compromises will involve Republicans repudiating the white nationalists in their ranks, but it's a faint hope.
That's pretty much all they stand for now.
The one small glimmer is the apparent rejection by corporate America.
Good on you, Bed Bath and Beyond! Kudos Kohl's!
Democrats have a winning formula for the coming midterms as seen in Georgia. If they follow it and continue to energize voters they should be able to overcome the midterm slump and build a solid governing majority.
I think there is consensus that the pandemic is the first priority. If the new administration is seen to be transparent, competent and importantly, earnest in it's efforts to get the infection rate under control that will go a long way towards success. The first SOTU address will be extremely important.
It's true the media was obsessed and we will now need to wean ourselves off the daily drama, but I am grateful to all the journalists who kept shining the light on this corrupt and incompetent chapter in our history. I don't think it's hyperbole to say they saved the Republic.
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